Gas prices - Where is gas still affordable?

Please explain to us exactly which raw materials or products in general are those that Russia cannot produce itself? And can't Brazil simply order parts and then send them to Russia? Or China, or India. There is nothing that Russia does not have or could not have. And foreign currency is not a problem. If you have raw materials, you also have foreign currency. Didn't everyone in the West shout right after the invasion that Russia is bankrupt? Where? That was 6 months ago now. The only ones who are bankrupt, that's us.

Hello Steven,

so I now know 4 families from my closest circle of acquaintances who have emigrated to Paraguay. My school friend
was among them. They sold their house very well in Germany and are moving there in mid-August. She was frustrated here.

In the meantime, I can understand their decision very well. The 500k for the house + savings are enough for life including a nice life in Paraguay.

Another acquaintance sold his company and his house and also emigrated to Paraguay. He bought a ranch and breeds cattle there.

The climate is warm, there are German colonies, German schools and a very large German community.

For me, it is rather not something, that would be a bit too exciting for me in my old days. But I also no longer see a real future in Germany. This country is somehow lost.

You just have to read the posts in this forum. People have simply lost their bearings.

I find it shocking how quickly people give up. For years and decades, life in Germany was quiet and thoughtful. When things change just a little, people already run away. The population here is very spoiled and doesn’t even know what it is like to have little. I just imagine the Ukraine case in Germany. Honestly, I don’t believe that the people (Germans) would defend Germany like that. At the slightest sign, most would emigrate.

It is not the 100% perfect example for the rising gas prices. But about 17 years ago, when I worked as a working student in a chemical company, people were already complaining because the 15th salary was supposed to be only 50%.

Please explain to us exactly which intermediate products or products in general are those that Russia cannot produce itself?

Obviously everything that is somehow needed in the automotive industry. Avtovaz is bringing vehicles to the market without exhaust aftertreatment, ESP, ABS, or airbags.
Furthermore, there seem to be certain bottlenecks in agricultural technology; otherwise, why else would one plunder Ukraine here?

I don't really believe that many people would emigrate if there was a war here. A sense of belonging to one's homeland is somehow something different. But we are really doing well.... if you have the capacity to decide whether the color of the washing machine matches the rest of the inventory or if you buy the third dog, the next horse, or if there are (paid) gender officers/professorships.... yes, overall we are doing well. Exceptions of course excluded and I don't want to argue those away or ignore that many problems are coming our way. Nevertheless, the basic idea of making ourselves less dependent in the coming decades is simply very important. Otherwise, the next state will have us in its grip.

What are you paying now for gas/kWh?

Am I correct in understanding that only tenants will be affected by these back payments because they don't have an overview of when the price was increased and how high the consumption is? I asked our old landlord in January if the gas price had been raised, otherwise I would transfer more. The casual reply was "I don't know, we'll see next year." I would wish for a certain duty of care from landlords in this regard.

-Automotive industry, as MayCh says, 96% less production compared to the previous year. In total with all the suppliers about 10 million jobs. They are not laying off yet, but reducing working days and sending people on vacation to grow potatoes (no joke). Of course, salary is also reduced. -Severstal and Magnitogorsk: the steel strongholds are complaining about the artificially maintained strong ruble. Export no longer pays off because they bring too few rubles home and remain in the negative. They want to reduce exports by 20% in the near future. This will probably drive our steel prices up. Here too, the wave of layoffs among the Russians has not come yet. -and so this goes through all the industries entirely. I find the example quite good, two drivers driving towards each other and each wants to force the other to swerve. Regarding NS2: a year ago I was in favor. And it did not taste good at all that the Americans wanted to interfere here and sell their liquefied gas. It is clear now that it will not be opened. But assuming peace is signed tomorrow: I am still skeptical whether NS2 will be opened...

I don’t really believe that many would emigrate if there was a war here. Attachment to one’s homeland is somehow something different. But we are really doing well.... if you have the capacity to decide whether the color of the washing machine matches the rest of the furniture or if you buy a third dog, the next horse, or if there are (paid) gender officers/professorships.... yes, overall we are doing well. Exceptions of course are excluded and I don’t want to talk them away or ignore the many problems that lie ahead for us. Nevertheless, the basic idea of becoming less dependent in the coming decades is just very important. Otherwise the next state will have us in its grip.

What are you paying for gas/kWh now?

Am I right in thinking that only tenants will be affected by these additional payments because they don’t have an overview of when the price was increased and how high the consumption is? I asked our old landlord in January if the gas price had been raised, otherwise I would transfer more. The casual answer was “I don’t know, we’ll see next year.” I would wish for a certain duty of care from the landlords.

Almost exclusively tenants will certainly be affected by the enormous additional payments. But that doesn’t change the fact that owners also have to bear the higher price. Example with my son: until February about 6 cents, now about 12 cents per kWh. That already means a doubling from about €130 to €260 per month. In addition, Habeck’s allowance from October of maybe 5 cents, which means another €100 more per month. From February 23 we’ll see what the provider wants; on the usual comparison portals nothing is below 24 cents at the moment. He wanted to build new next year because the house is old and just enough for 2 people, but now they have a child and need more space. Both earn roughly average for this area. But right now a lifelong dream is bursting, years of planning are going down the drain.

A change in the next years would be right, but not within a few months!

Of course we are doing well overall, especially when looking at it worldwide. But that doesn’t mean the masses choose their washing machine by its color. Many people can currently no longer choose the washing machine if the old one breaks down, they have to see that they get a used one.